Arraigo for training: apply for residence with EX-10 and a study commitment

What you need at hand

1. Cl@ve or certificado digital to enter Mercurio.
2. Passport in date, well scanned (all pages in a single PDF).
3. Historical empadronamiento covering 2 years (ask your Ayuntamiento, with alta/baja dates).
4. Criminal record certificate from your country (last 5 years), with apostilla/legalisation and sworn translation.
5. Commitment to training or pre-enrolment in an FP, Certificado de Profesionalidad or other valid training.
6. Card or account to pay the tasa 790-052 online (NRC) or at the bank.

Documentation

• EX-10 completed and signed.
• Pasaporte completo en vigor.
• Certificado de empadronamiento histórico (at least 2 years, absences < 90 days).
• Antecedentes penales apostillados/legalizados and with traducción jurada if not in Spanish.
• Compromiso de formación (better if you already have preinscripción/matrícula).
• Justificante de la tasa 790-052.
• After grant: matrícula definitiva y calendario to upload within 3 months.

Step by step

1. Go to Mercurio: https://mercurio.delegaciondelgobierno.gob.es/mercurio/modoAcceso.html and select EX-10 (arraigo por circunstancias excepcionales).
2. Fill the form and attach PDFs: EX-10, passport, historical padrón, antecedentes and training commitment.
3. Generate and pay the 790-052 at https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/pagina/index/directorio/tasa052 (pay with NRC or in bank). Upload the receipt.
4. Send and keep the resguardo. Check status at https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/infoext2/.
5. If granted, within maximum 3 months upload the matrícula definitiva and the training calendar that meets requirements.
6. Book a huellas (TIE) appointment at https://icp.administracionelectronica.gob.es/icpplus/, pay the 790-012 at https://sede.policia.gob.es/Tasa790_012/ and attend with photos, passport and resolución.

Time-savers

• Group documents by blocks (passport in one PDF, padrón in another). Mercurio chokes on PDFs >10 MB.
• If possible, submit preinscripción at the start. Some offices approve faster.
• Order antecedentes early: apostilla and sworn translation take time and must be recent.
• For the huellas appointment, check first thing in the morning and refresh often. This is what typically ruins plans.
• Keep every resguardo and the notification. They'll ask for them at fingerprints.

Common mistakes that mess up the process

1. Uploading antecedentes without apostilla or without traducción jurada.
2. Presenting a course that isn't valid training (unaccredited academies, random online courses).
3. Not properly proving the 2 years (incomplete padrón or big gaps).
4. Forgetting to upload the matrícula within 3 months after the grant: they can extinguish the authorisation.
5. Thinking this permit allows working: it doesn't. You must finish the training and then apply for work.
6. Booking huellas without having uploaded the matrícula: the comisaría can reject you.